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Get Your Animals Vaccinated and Keep an Eye Out for Strange Animal Behavior
By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - A fox in Zebulon was confirmed to have rabies this week in what is the fourth case of rabies in Pike County during the past six weeks. A fox was killed after it attacked a man inside of the Zebulon City Limits. Residents are being warned to keep an eye out for animals that are acting strangely and call law enforcement if needed to help with a problem as well as making sure that your pets are vaccinated against rabies.
There were two calls about a possible rabid fox on Sunday morning, April 19. Sgt. Keith Rader of the Zebulon Police Department advised Officer Shawn Carr responded to an address on Hall Street early that morning where a fox had gotten into a fight with a dog on a screened in porch. The fox was still aggressive after attacking the dog so Officer Carr pepper sprayed the fox and it ran off of the porch. The dog had been vaccinated against rabies but has been taken to the vet to be monitored for rabies. If the dog shows any signs of rabies, it will have to be euthanized.
At approximately 8 a.m. that Sunday morning, Sgt. Rader advised that he received a call about an aggressive fox at an address on Industrial Drive from a man who had been out walking his dog and was attacked by a fox. This resident advised that he was walking his dog near his house when the fox attacked.
The man kicked at the fox a couple of times and picked up his dog so it wouldn’t get bitten. His wife brought a shot gun to him, and he shot the fox. During the scuffle, the man was scratched on his leg and is undertaking the series of shots for rabies.
“When you’ve got an animal that is aggressive toward people or animals, that’s unusual behavior and it’s extremely unusual for foxes to attack someone,” Rader said. He retrieved the fox and kept it on ice until Monday morning where its head could be tested for rabies. The test came back positive for rabies on Tuesday, April 21.
“Industrial Drive and Hall Street are right near each other,” Rader said. “I firmly believe it was indeed the same animal at both residences. Pepper spray has a rather unusual odor to it.”
Rader also said that this is the first case that has occurred in Zebulon in a long time. However, he said that people need to be aware of their surroundings and notify law enforcement if they see a wild or domestic animal that is behaving in an unusual manner. He advised that residents should stay out of the way of the animal after contacting law enforcement or do what is needed to protect themselves--though it should be noted that the head of the animal is needed for rabies testing. He also advised residents to have their pets vaccinated for rabies. Click here to read about the previous confirmed cases of rabies in Pike County so far this year.
Three cases of rabies were confirmed through August of last year within Pike County. Rabies can occur in skunks, raccoons, coyotes, foxes and bats according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s website. Wild animals with rabies sometimes infect dogs, cats, and livestock. State law requires the vaccination of dogs, cats, and ferrets against rabies on a yearly basis. Click here to read about the cases from last year.
If you notice any animals acting strangely or aggressively, do not approach them and call 911. If an animal suspected of rabies is killed, the head is must be preserved so it can be sent off for testing. For more information about rabies, click here.
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